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Sam Allardyce’s chances of still being West Ham manager next season look increasingly doubtful following deadlock in negotiations over a new deal.
Allardyce’s contract ends this summer and he has become more and more frustrated with public speculation over his position.
Reports today suggested he will reject any deal from the club and has already turned down a tentative two‑year offer.
A West Ham spokesman denied that and said a decision on the manager’s future will not be made until the end of the season while a source close to Allardyce insisted he “hadn’t rejected anything”.
Debate about Allardyce’s situation has steadily increased in recent weeks, together with a list of possiblereplacements. Bookmakers have Rafa Benitez as the favourite to be the next West Ham manager with his own future at Napoli in doubt.
David Moyes had been the favourite but his odds lengthened after he said he would be staying at Real Sociedad. Slaven Bilic, Steve McClaren and, most recently, Eddie Howe have also all been linked with the Hammers.
The West Ham hierarchy have been impressed by Howe’s work at Bournemouth but would ideally want to see how he fares in the Premier League before making any move.
Former England boss McClaren has intimated that he wants to remain at Derby. Should Allardyce leave after four successful seasons, he is likely to have plenty of offers.
Sunderland have been linked with the 60-year-old but he is unlikely to favour a move to the North-East. He has enjoyed his time in London and today there was a report of interest from Fulham.
Allardyce believes his achievement at West Ham — winning promotion back to the Premier League in his first season and then establishing them as a top-flight club — means he deserves the chance to take the club into the Olympic Stadium in August 2016.
But that prospect looks increasingly slim given the way the talks have dragged on.
